Champoux Vineyard
Encyclopedia
Champoux Vineyard is a grape
growing estate located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA
of Washington State. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wine
s with the name Champoux regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt
, wine
writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Champoux as one the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. Cabernet Sauvignon
grapes from Champoux vineyards were featured in the consecutive 100 point Robert Parker rated wines from Quilceda Creek for the 2002 and 2003 vintage
s.
Located 35 miles (56 km) south of Sunnyside, Washington
, the area was originally part of the expansive 6600 acres (2,670.9 ha) Mercer Ranch owned by the family of Don Mercer. The first grapes were planted in 1972. Today the Cabernet Sauvignon vines from this original "Block One" site are among the oldest vines
in Washington. In 1990, Paul and Judy Champoux began leasing the vineyard land from the original owners. Paul, who previously did viticulture
work for Chateau Ste Michelle, had been working at the vineyard since the mid-1980s. In 1996, the Champouxes formed a partnership with the owners of the Washington wineries Andrew Will, Powers Winery, Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon to purchase the vineyard outright. From an initial 7 acres (2.8 ha), the vineyard has grown to over 170 acres (68.8 ha) and features plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling
, Chardonnay
, Lemberger, Merlot
, Muscat
, Cabernet franc
, Syrah and Petit Verdot
.
The land that would become Champoux Vineyard was originally part of the expansive Mercer Ranch. The 6600 acres (26.7 km²) ranch featured vast plantings of several agricultural crops including carrots, corn and potatoes. In the early 1970s, the ranch's owner Don Mercer decided to plant a vineyard with the aim of growing grapes that would rival those of the Bordeaux wine
estate Chateau Lafite. The first grapes were planted in 1972, a 7 acres (28,328 m²) block of Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The site of the original block was chosen by mere happenstance since it was an isolated segment of the ranch by the main road that was out of the reach of circle irrigation sprinklers that would have be needed if the land was to be usable for another agricultural crop. By the mid-1980s there were more 132 acres (53.4 ha) planted and winery, Mercer Ranch Vineyards was founded. Paul Champoux, a hop
farmer from the Yakima Valley
who had previously planted the original 2300 acres (930.8 ha) Columbia Crest vineyard overlooking the Columbia River
, was hired as a vineyard manager of the estate.
In 1989, Mercer Ranch Vineyards folded its winery operation but continued to sell grapes to other Washington winemakers. Paul and his wife Judy began leasing the estate from the Mercers and started to expand with additional plantings of various grape varieties. In 1996, the Champouxes formed a partnership with the owners of several Washington wineries to purchase the vineyard outright.
who moved to Toppenish, Washington
as a young child. Not knowing much about the particulars of viticulture, Paul Champoux sought out the tutelage of several pioneers in the Washington wine industry include Dr. Walter Clore
, Wade Wolfe from Thurston Wolfe Winery and Clay Mackey from Chinook Wines. Champoux worked with Chateau Ste. Michelle, overseeing the plantings that would become part of the Columbia Crest vineyard, from 1979-1986 when he was hired the vineyard manager for Mercer Ranch Vineyards.
Paul Champoux is currently chairmen of the Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers Association. In mid 2009, Paul Champoux was one of two people the Klickitat County Health Department reported as being stricken with the West Nile Virus
. After receiving medical attention in Portland, Oregon
, Champoux was transferred to a rehab facility in Richland, Washington
were he was expected to make a full recovery.
, Champoux vineyard is farmed with an emphasis on environmental awareness. No synthetic fertilizers has been used on the property in over 20 years with cover crop
s and compost
used to help sustain the microbial activity in the soil. Maintaining healthy levels of magnesium
and other plant nutrients early vine growing season is a priority in order to ensure proper build ups of sugars in the grapes by the time véraison
occurs later in the season. Paul Champoux works with many of the individual winemakers that use his grapes to tailor the vine's maintenance to their winemaking
needs. He has broken the growing season down into the “seasons of the vine”, which are initial growth, reproductive cycle, secondary growth/berry development, lag phase, and veraison/maturation. During each of those different seasons, Champoux applies a different nutritional package of nutrients through the leaves to give the vine what it needs for the upcoming stage. In recent years, he has been experimenting with Rick Smalls, owner of Woodward Canyon, with delaying the early season pruning
of the vine's canopy
in order to get more physiologically ripe grapes but at lower potential sugar/alcohol levels. Another technique that Champoux employs is spraying nutrients directly onto the leaves of grape vines, rather than on the ground. This not only minimizes the amount of chemicals that could potentially seep into the ground but also lessens the amount of times that the nutrients would need to be re-applied.
In 2007, Champoux Vineyard had a little over 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) planted. The most sought after grapes for winemakers is the original 1972 "Block One" 7 acres (28,328 m²) plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon which includes some of the oldest grapevines in the state. Today the Cabernet Sauvignon plantings are divided into 5 blocks, varying according to vine age and featuring different mesoclimate characteristics. All the blocks remain in high demand among Washington winemakers with some winemakers using the unique terroir
characteristics of each block to blend into a vineyard designated Champoux Cabernet Sauvignon.
By 2009 the number had grown to 180 acres (72.8 ha) and included plantings of Malbec
, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat and Petite Verdot.
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
growing estate located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Horse Heaven Hills AVA
The Horse Heaven Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area in southeastern Washington, and is part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. The Horse Heaven Hills AVA borders the Yakima Valley AVA on the north and the Columbia River on the south. Elevations in this AVA range from above sea level in...
of Washington State. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wine
Washington Wine
Washington wine is wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. By 2006, the state had over of vineyards, a harvest of of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries...
s with the name Champoux regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt
Paul Gregutt
Paul Gregutt is an American wine writer whose focus is the wine of Oregon and Washington. Gregutt publishes a column titled "Wine Adviser" in The Seattle Times, and contributes to publications such as Vineyard & Winery Management, Yakima Herald-Republic, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and the...
, wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Champoux as one the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
grapes from Champoux vineyards were featured in the consecutive 100 point Robert Parker rated wines from Quilceda Creek for the 2002 and 2003 vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
s.
Located 35 miles (56 km) south of Sunnyside, Washington
Sunnyside, Washington
Sunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. As of the 2010 Census the population was 15,858.-History:On September 16, 1902, residents voted 42 to one to incorporate as the town of Sunnyside. By state law a town needed to have 300 citizens in order to legally incorporate...
, the area was originally part of the expansive 6600 acres (2,670.9 ha) Mercer Ranch owned by the family of Don Mercer. The first grapes were planted in 1972. Today the Cabernet Sauvignon vines from this original "Block One" site are among the oldest vines
Old vine
Old vine is a term commonly used on wine labels to indicate that a wine is the product of grape vines that are notably old. The practice of displaying it stems from the general belief that older vines, when properly handled, will give a better wine...
in Washington. In 1990, Paul and Judy Champoux began leasing the vineyard land from the original owners. Paul, who previously did viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
work for Chateau Ste Michelle, had been working at the vineyard since the mid-1980s. In 1996, the Champouxes formed a partnership with the owners of the Washington wineries Andrew Will, Powers Winery, Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon to purchase the vineyard outright. From an initial 7 acres (2.8 ha), the vineyard has grown to over 170 acres (68.8 ha) and features plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
, Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, Lemberger, Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
, Muscat
Muscat (grape and wine)
The Muscat variety of grapes of the species Vitis vinifera is widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world...
, Cabernet franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
, Syrah and Petit Verdot
Petit verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the...
.
History
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
estate Chateau Lafite. The first grapes were planted in 1972, a 7 acres (28,328 m²) block of Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The site of the original block was chosen by mere happenstance since it was an isolated segment of the ranch by the main road that was out of the reach of circle irrigation sprinklers that would have be needed if the land was to be usable for another agricultural crop. By the mid-1980s there were more 132 acres (53.4 ha) planted and winery, Mercer Ranch Vineyards was founded. Paul Champoux, a hop
Hop (plant)
Humulus, Hop, is a small genus of flowering plants native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The female flowers of H. lupulus are known as hops, and are used as a culinary flavoring and stabilizer, especially in the brewing of beer...
farmer from the Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley may refer to:*Yakima River Valley in southeastern Washington*Yakima Valley AVA...
who had previously planted the original 2300 acres (930.8 ha) Columbia Crest vineyard overlooking the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
, was hired as a vineyard manager of the estate.
In 1989, Mercer Ranch Vineyards folded its winery operation but continued to sell grapes to other Washington winemakers. Paul and his wife Judy began leasing the estate from the Mercers and started to expand with additional plantings of various grape varieties. In 1996, the Champouxes formed a partnership with the owners of several Washington wineries to purchase the vineyard outright.
Paul Champoux
Paul Champoux was a hop farmer who was first approached by Chateau Ste Michelle in the late 1970s to oversee the plantings of an expansive vineyard along the Columbia River. His father was a French CanadianFrench Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
who moved to Toppenish, Washington
Toppenish, Washington
Toppenish is a city in Yakima County, Washington, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,949.-History:The General Allotment Act of 1887 granted an allotment of land to a woman of half Indian ancestry, Josephine Bowser Lillie, known as "The Mother of Toppenish"...
as a young child. Not knowing much about the particulars of viticulture, Paul Champoux sought out the tutelage of several pioneers in the Washington wine industry include Dr. Walter Clore
Walter Clore
Dr. Walter J. Clore was a pioneer in wine growing and agricultural research in Washington State and has been formally recognized by the Washington State Legislature as the "Father of Washington Wine"....
, Wade Wolfe from Thurston Wolfe Winery and Clay Mackey from Chinook Wines. Champoux worked with Chateau Ste. Michelle, overseeing the plantings that would become part of the Columbia Crest vineyard, from 1979-1986 when he was hired the vineyard manager for Mercer Ranch Vineyards.
Paul Champoux is currently chairmen of the Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers Association. In mid 2009, Paul Champoux was one of two people the Klickitat County Health Department reported as being stricken with the West Nile Virus
West Nile virus
West Nile virus is a virus of the family Flaviviridae. Part of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of viruses, it is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, domestic...
. After receiving medical attention in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Champoux was transferred to a rehab facility in Richland, Washington
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
were he was expected to make a full recovery.
Viticultural practices
While not a certified organic vineyardOrganic wine
The most widely accepted definition of Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown in accordance with principles of organic farming, which typically excludes the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides....
, Champoux vineyard is farmed with an emphasis on environmental awareness. No synthetic fertilizers has been used on the property in over 20 years with cover crop
Cover crop
Cover crops are crops planted primarily to manage soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in agroecosystems , ecological systems managed and largely shaped by humans across a range of intensities to produce food, feed, or fiber.Cover crops are of...
s and compost
Compost
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At its most essential, the process of composting requires simply piling up waste outdoors and waiting for the materials to break down from anywhere...
used to help sustain the microbial activity in the soil. Maintaining healthy levels of magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
and other plant nutrients early vine growing season is a priority in order to ensure proper build ups of sugars in the grapes by the time véraison
Veraison
Véraison is a viticulture term meaning "the onset of ripening". It is originally French, but has been adopted into English use...
occurs later in the season. Paul Champoux works with many of the individual winemakers that use his grapes to tailor the vine's maintenance to their winemaking
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
needs. He has broken the growing season down into the “seasons of the vine”, which are initial growth, reproductive cycle, secondary growth/berry development, lag phase, and veraison/maturation. During each of those different seasons, Champoux applies a different nutritional package of nutrients through the leaves to give the vine what it needs for the upcoming stage. In recent years, he has been experimenting with Rick Smalls, owner of Woodward Canyon, with delaying the early season pruning
Pruning
Pruning is a horticultural practice involving the selective removal of parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping , improving or maintaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for...
of the vine's canopy
Canopy (vine)
In viticulture, the canopy of a grapevine includes the parts of the vine visible aboveground - the trunk, cordon, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. The canopy plays a key role in light energy capture via photosynthesis, water use as regulated by transpiration, and microclimate of ripening grapes...
in order to get more physiologically ripe grapes but at lower potential sugar/alcohol levels. Another technique that Champoux employs is spraying nutrients directly onto the leaves of grape vines, rather than on the ground. This not only minimizes the amount of chemicals that could potentially seep into the ground but also lessens the amount of times that the nutrients would need to be re-applied.
Plantings
Terroir
Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties...
characteristics of each block to blend into a vineyard designated Champoux Cabernet Sauvignon.
- 84 acres (34 ha) of Cabernet Sauvignon
- 30 acres (12 ha) of Riesling
- 16 acres (6 ha) of Chardonnay
- 13 acres (5 ha) of Lemberger
- 10 acres (4 ha) of Merlot
- 8 acres (3 ha) of Cabernet franc
- 7 acres (2.8 ha) of Muscat
- 2 acres (0.81 ha) of Syrah
By 2009 the number had grown to 180 acres (72.8 ha) and included plantings of Malbec
Malbec
Malbec is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins, and are long known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. The French plantations of Malbec are now found primarily in Cahors in the South West...
, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat and Petite Verdot.